Meet a California man who makes custom lightsabers that sell for thousands

Meet a California man who makes custom lightsabers that sell for thousands

The Force is strong with Michael Murphy

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 7:05 AM CST Dec 17, 2016

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT
OF HIS HOME IN ROSEVILLE.
WE TOOK A LOOK AT HIS BUSINESS
THAT'S FULFILLING A CHILDHOOD
DREAM.
THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH MICHAEL
MURPHY
THE FORCE TO CREATE THIS.
THE ROSEVILLE DAD HAS BUILT A
FOLLOWING ONLINE WITH HIS
COMPANY F.X. SABERS.
AND FOR A PRICE YOU CAN OWN ONE
OF THE MOST HIGH-TECH, AUTHENTIC
LIGHT SABERS.
THE ICONIC WEAPONS PAYING HOMAGE
TO HIS CHILDHOOD LOVE OF STAR
WARS.
STAR WARS INSPIRED ME THE WAY
A LOT OF THE STUFF I HAVE DONE
INSPIRED OTHER PEOPLE.
GULSTAN: MICHAEL WAS FOUR WHEN
HE SAW THE ORIGINAL ST WARS,
"A NEW HOPE."
NEXT AW
DOOR TO
THE THEATER WAS A
TOY STORE.
>> EVER SINCE THEN I HAD A
DESIRE TO BE A TOYMAKER.
GULSTAN: EDIE: --
GULSTAN: HE BUILT HIS FIRST
LED-POWERED SABER IN 2005
PUTTING HIS OWN SPIN ON THE STAR
WARS CLASSIC.
>> IT EMULATES THE BASIC LOOK
BUT I'VE GIVEN IT MY OWN STYLE.
GULSTAN: THE MOST RECENT MODEL
SOLD ON EBAY FOR $15,000.
THAT IS A LOT OF CREDITS.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE HARDCORE FANS
LIKE.
THEY WANT SOMETHING THAT WHEN
THEY SEE IT ON SCREEN THEY SAY
OK, THIS IS AS CLOSE AS I CAN
GET TO WHAT'S ON SCREEN.
GULSTAN: AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING
IF YOU CAN DUAL WITH THESE
NOVELTIES.
MICHAEL SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL BUT MOST ARE
COMBAT-READY.
OUR REPORTER WAS HAPPY TO TEST
ONE OUT.
THE DEMAND IS MUCH HIGHER THAN
MICHAEL CAN KEEP UP WITH
HE BUILDS ONLY 2-3 A MONTH AND
EVEN HAS FAMOUS CLIENTS HE WON'T
REVEAL.
>> IT'S HUMBLING BEYOND BELIEF
TO BE PART OF SOMETHING SO
IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.
GULSTA IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF
ITS POWER TO INSPIRE.
>> STAR WARS HELPS US PUSH
FORWARD.
GULSTAN: AND MICHAEL HOPES HIS
SABERS PUSH FANS TO TURN THEIR
DREAMS INTO A FORCE TO BE
RECKONED WITH.
>> THOSE OF US WHO ARE PURISTS
FOR THE MOVIES HELP INSPIRE

Meet a California man who makes custom lightsabers that sell for thousands

Michael Murphy has been making high-tech LED-powered custom lightsabers out of his Roseville, Calif. home for more than 10 years.

Some of his most recent models have sold online for as much as $15,000.

Advertisement

KCRA 3 sat down with Murphy exclusively and learned how he keeps the force strong by living his childhood dream through making these exotic props.

KCRA

1. Murphy builds each lightsaber from scratch, using vintage materials that aren't cheap.

The chassis involves taking old vintage camera flash guns and turning them into a functioning saber with a soundboard inside.

"I put my own spin on it. I make it have my own look, although it emulates the basic look from Star Wars, I've given it my own style," Murphy said.

KCRA

2. Murphy's sabers pay homage to his childhood love of Star Wars.

He saw the first George Lucas film in 1977 when he was just 4 years old with his parents. Next door to the theater was a toy store.

"Ever since then I had a desire to be a toymaker," Murphy said. "Star Wars has always had an effect on me. It was the movie I saw that connected with me the most. Star Wars helps us push forward."

KCRA Natalie Brunell

3. The sabers aren't cheap to make, and therefore require a lot of “credits” if you want to one of your own.

The first saber Murphy created was back in 2005 which sold for about $500, but a recent and high-end saber sold for $15,000 on eBay.

"That's what the hardcore fans want, they want to get something, that, when they see it on screen and say, ‘Wow this is as close as I can get to what's on screen,’" Murphy said.

KCRA Natalie Brunell

4. If you expect to get one before the holidays, you should probably think again.

Murphy makes two to three sabers per month, and some have taken him up to two months to build.

"Anyone can build there and wire and solder something up. But can you build it so it will really last and really mean something to someone? Ten years from now are you going to be able to pick it up and have it really work? This does," Murphy said.

KCRA Natalie Brunell

5. Can you play with these iconic weapon replicas? YES!

Murphy said you have to be careful, the very high-end models are more for display but most of his sabers are combat ready.

KCRA reporter Natalie Brunell even took one out for a spin.

"Those of us who are purists for the movies help inspire everyone else and that, you can't put a price on that," Murphy said.